Britain entered World War 2 in 1939 after Germany invaded Poland. While the British were able to evacuate over 338,000 troops from Dunkirk in 1940, they lost valuable equipment. Germany then invaded France and soon controlled much of Western Europe. The Battle of Britain in 1940 was a major turning point as the British Royal Air Force defeated the German Luftwaffe, preventing invasion. Fighting also occurred in North Africa between British and German forces. By late 1942, the tide began to turn as the Soviets defeated Germany at Stalingrad and the Allies invaded Italy. On D-Day in 1944, Allied forces invaded Normandy and advanced towards Germany. The war ended in 1945 after the Allies invaded Germany from both east and west and dropped

1. Britain and WW2 The Opening Phase Importance of Dunkirk North Africa Battle of the Atlantic The Tide Turns Advance into Germany War in the Far East

2. The Opening Phase – Part One Poland Invaded – Britain and France declare war on Germany (3 Sept. 1939) The ‘Phoney War’ Germany invades Demark and Norway – April 1940 Chamberlain resigns – replaced by Churchill Blitzkrieg was launched against Holland, Belgium and France on 10 May 1940 Swift victory as the Germans swept across northern France Only Dunkirk remained in Allied hands British Navy evacuates over 338,000 troops from Dunkirk

3. Importance of Dunkirk Over one third of a million troops were rescued to fight again I t was used for propaganda purposes to boost morale with the 'Dunkirk spirit' British lost arms and equipment so it was impossible for Britain to help France. 4. The Germans swept southward and captured Paris and France surrendered on 22 June. 5. Unoccupied France was allowed its own government under Pétain – Vichy France

4. The Opening Phase – Part Two Battle of Britain - Goering's Luftwaffe tried to destroy the RAF before invasion of Britain. The Germans bombed harbours, radar stations, aerodromes, munitions factories In September they began to bomb London – the Blitz - crucial moment. Use of Radar and Better planes The first major turning point of the war German advance checked – Britain remains fighting Germany now faced with a war on two fronts (Russia)

5. North Africa Italy invades Egypt from Libya in Sept. 1940 British drive Italians back and take most of Libya Hitler sends Rommel and the Afrika Korps to assist the Italians Germany invades Greece in order to split British forces Major tank battles take place British defeat the Germans at El Alamein and begin to push the Germans back to Tunisia

6. Battle of the Atlantic British Objectives - 1. To protect merchant ships bringing food supplies - 2. Sink German submarines and ships - 3. Blockading Germany - 4. Transporting and supplying Allied troops fighting in North Africa and later in Italy. Initially U-Boats inflict heavy losses on Allied shipping British tactics improved and the tide turned – use of Air Force important

7. The Tide Turns USA enters the war Dec 1941 Germany struggling in Russia by the end of 1942 – defeat at Stalingrad British and Americans invade Italy in July 1943 D-Day 6 June 1944 – Invasion of Normandy Major engineering feat – Mulberrys and Pluto Paris liberated on 25 August Belgium in September.

8. Advance into Germany Significant German resistance British defeated at Arnhem (Operation Market Garden) in Holland Germans launch counter-offensive – Battle of the Bulge – Germans suffer heavy defeat Germany invaded from East and West in early 1945 Carpet Bombing of German cities – 50,000 die in Dresden in one night in February 1945

9. War in the Far East Japanese initially drive British out of parts of their Asian colonies – Hong Kong, Malaya and Burma As in Europe – the Japanese were pushed back as the Americans and British gained upper hand – Battle of Midway etc Major Japanese resistance on Pacific islands Dropping of Atom Bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki causes massive death toll

10. Presentation prepared by: Dominic Haugh St. Particks Comprehensive School Shannon Co. Clare Presentation can be used for educational purposes only – all rights remain with author